Automatic gasket compound applying machine



June 22, 1965 E. L. HEFFLEY ETAL 3,190,258

AUTOMATIC GASKET COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29. 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV EN TORS Que-5r L. //FFLY By Laws .d. Mil-1.0?

WWMMA June 22, 1965 E. I... HEFFLEY ETAL AUTOMATIC GASKET COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1960 'LOA 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 B louns J- Maw/9 June 22, 1965 HEFFLEY ETAL 3,190,258

AUTOMATIC GASKET COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS kmssr L. l/EFFLEY Lows d. M/Lusk June 22, 1965 E, HEFFLEY ETAL 3,190,253

AUTOMATIC GASKET COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29, 1960 e Sheets-Sheet 4 j INVENTORS E wycSr L, HEFFLEY BY (cu/s Mum- A rrOe/vEY June 1965 E. L. HEFFLEY ETAL 3, 90,2 3

AUTOMATIQ GASKET COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29. 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV EN TOR-3 A rrowyc'y June 22, 1965 E. L. HEFFLEY ETAL 3,190,258

AUTOMATIC GASKET COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Filed sept. 29; 1960 e Sheets-Sheet s l I I IN VEN TORS E nar L. H'FFLEY Lav/s J. MILLEQ United States Patent 3,190,258 H p AUTOMATIC GASKET COMPOUND APPLYING MACHINE Ernest L. Heflley and Louis J. Miller, Connellsville, Pa.,

assignors to Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation, Lancaster, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 59,264 13 Claims. (Cl. 118-2) The present invention relates to an'automatic machine for applying gasket forming or adhering liquids to closure cap shells and more particularly to an improved automatic machine particularly adapted forvapplying such liquids in flowed-in rings of predetermined width and thickness.

The present application is a continuation in part of our copending application S.N. 806,703 filed April 15, 1959, now US. Patent No. 3,053,221. The copending patent application discloses a high speed automatic machine for forming flowed-in gaskets in closure shells. The present application discloses improvements upon the previous machine which adapts itfor more efiicient insertion of flowed-in ring-like gaskets where the depth and position of the ring must, be precisely controlled.

In order to provide for improved control of the gasket applying nozzles, the rotation of the closure shells is syn- Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for automatically applying flowed-in gasket compound or adhesive to closurev shells.

Another object of the present invention is. to provide an improved high speed automatic machine particularly adapted for applying a ring of gasket compound or adhesive of predetermined width and depth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic flowed-in gasket insertion machine adapted to apply a precisely positioned ring-like gasket.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic flowed-in type gasket applying machine with improved safety controls. v

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved gasket fluid control system;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view'of the improved gasket fluid control system and the synchronized machine drive applied to a rotary gasket insertion machine;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detailed side elevational view of the gasket fluid control system;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 3 showing the gasket fluid control system in its normal position;

"ice

The present invention relates to improvements in the I rotary gasket compound applying machine described in the above copending patent application. The present description will, therefore, be directed principally to the improved portions .of such a compound applying machine and their relationship with the over-all machine operation. 7

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the present improved compound applying mechanism is adapted for use on a turret-type rotary machine which carries a succession of closure shells 1 around an arcuate path while the closure shells 1 are simultaneously rotated and are partiallyfilled with gasket compound in the desired shape and thickness.

Closure shells 1 are carried along the arcuate path by a turret 2 mounted on the machine frame 3 on a hollow shaft 4 rotatably mounted on bearings 5 on a fixed spindle 6. The closure shells 1 are carried by a series of rotatably mounted pedestals 7 evenly spaced around'the turret 2' and having a suitable closure shell receiving pocket 8'in their tops. Each of the closure shells 1 is fed onto a pedestal 7 from a feed conveyor 9 by a rotating closure shell feed wheel '10 having spaced pockets 11 whose movement is synchronized with that of turret 2 to apply a closure shell 1 to each of the moving pedestals 7.

As will be more'fully described below, 'a compound applying nozzle 12 is mounted above each of the pedestals I on a suitable collar 13 and the collar 13 is attached to and rotated with the turret 2. Each closure shell 1 thus moves along an arcuate path on. a" pedestal 7 beneath a similarly moving :nozzle 12 as'the pedestal 7 carries the closure shell 1 from the feed wheel 10 to a closure shell exit chute-14.? Y

In order to apply an evenan'd ring-like coating of gasket compound or adhesive to the under side of each closure shell top, each gasket pedestal 7 is rotated sov that the closure shell 1 thereon is spun as it moves along the arcuate path beneath the compound nozzle 12.

The drive means for rotating the turret 2, the feed star whel 10, and the pedestals 7 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7. In order the synchronize the 'movements of each of these members, asingle power source is preferably provided such as the drive motor 15. The drive motor 15 is coupled at 16 to a suitable vertical drive shaft I7 (FIG. 7). Pinion 18 on shaft 17 drives thefeed wheel 10 through the intermediation of the vertical wheel mounting shaft 19 and connected pinion 20.

The turret 2 is rotated in synchronization with the feed star wheel 10 at the desired speed by being coupled to the vertical drive shaft 17 through the gears 20' and 20A. The rotatably mounted pedestals 7 are driven through the intermediation of pinion 21 and intercom nected pinions 22 and 23 which are rotatably mounted on the wheel mounting shaft 19. The lower pinion 23 engages ring gear 24 on turret 2 which, in turn, is con nected to ring gear 25 by sleeve 24A.

Each of the rotatably mounted pedestals 7 are rotated in synchronism with turret 2 by being driven from ring gear 25 on'turret. 2 which engages the individual pinions' 26 on each of the rotatably mounted pedestals 7. It thus is seen that each of the pedestals 7 will rotate a fixed nurn ber of turns as the pedestal 7 moves along the arcuate path between the feed wheel 10 and the exit chute 14 and that this number, of rotations will be independent of the operational speed of the machine and of the rotational speed of the turret 2. Gasket compound may thus be applied to each of the closure shells 11 on a pedestal 7 for the fixed portion of the arcuate distance necessary to provide an exact gasket depth with a predetermined overlap at the ends of the gasket ring. The depth and over lap will be independent of the machine speed permitting minor variations'to occur or adjustments to be made in the speed of the machine operation without changing the gasket depth and shape.

As indicated above, each'of the compoundnozzles 12 is mounted to rotate with the turret2 at a fixed position above a closureshell 1 on a pedestal 7.v A nozzle control system governs the application of the compound to the rotating closure'shells for the necessary period toregulate the gasket ring depth and overlap. Thiscontrol system will now be described. t

As illustrated in FIGS; 3 and 8, nozzles 12 are coupled to a source of gasket compound or adhesive by conduit 28, rotatable fluid coupling 29 and conduits 30. Each of the compound nozzles 12 is coupled by a separateconduit 30 to an outlet 27 in the rotating portion 29 of rotatable coupling 29. V

A supply of gasket compound under pressure therefre,.is continuously available in each of the nozzles 12. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the flow of the compound out of the nozzles, 12 is controlled by valve stem 31. Valve stem is a piston controlled .valve stem which is 'moved between its opened and its closed positions by the piston 32 at its upper end. Air is admitted under pressure int-o either the upperrport 33 or the lower port 34, to close :or open each of the nozzles'12. The admission of the air to. the nozzles 12 is controlled by a two-way air valve 35 one of which-is connected'to each simultaneously. :This is done by a suitable spacing ofsthe nozzles 12 and a proportioning of the cam 36 so that two or more of the ,cam followers 37 are simultaneously. in engagement with the lower portion 39 of control cam 36.

At the same time it is also desirable to retain individual control of each of the nozzles 12 so thatthe flow of gasket compound from-any one of the nozzles may be cut ofi at any time in the event that no closure shell 1 is presentini jacent to'the cam roller 38." This latch member 47- is normally heldin a lowered position as illustrated in FIG.

4 by the spring 48 so that an abutment portion 149. on

the latch member 47 engages and lowers the plunger: 40;

each time that-the cam. 36 moves thecam follower'37 downwardly to inject gasket compound into a closure.

' shell 1.

When it is necessary to inactivate any (ment the iridividual nozzles 12 to prevent the flow ofgasket compound due to'the absence of a'closure shell '1 on a pedestal 7,

the latchlmember 47 is rotated about its pivotal attachA ment on the cam follower 37 ina counterclockwise direction, as illustrated in FIG. '3, so that the cut out portion 49 on the latch member is moved above the plunger40t When the latch =member47 is in this position,- the latch.

member 47 does not contact plunger 40 as cam 36 lowers follower 37 so that the two-way air switch is not op mounted on'a suitable stationary support 52. Cam 511 in of the nozzles 12. The two-way air valve 35 is operated to apply gasket compound to each of therotating closure V shells 1 at the appropriate portion of their, arcuate'rnove- -ment on rotating turret 2-byv the arcuate cam 36'fixedly mounted above the. path of the moving nozzles 12 and pedestals 7. r e

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 8, a cam follower 37 is pivotally mounted on the rotating collar 13 with a cam roller 38 urged against the lowersurface of the armate cam 36 by spring 43. The downwardly" positioned portion 39 of 'thejcam36 swings the cam'follower 37 downwardly during the compound applying interval caus-' ing the cam follower 37 to engage and to lower plunger 40 of an air switch 35 so that air pressure is released from the top and is applied to the underside of'the piston 32 by conduit 41. This raises the valve stemj31 permitting the gasket compound to flowunder pressure from the nozzles 12 into the rotating closure shells 1 therebelow. When the cam follower 37 passes beyond the downwardly positioned portion 39 of the;cam 36 it returns upwardly to its normal position permitting plunger 40 to rise. and causing the -air switch 35 to releasethe air pressure from the lower side of the piston 32 and to apply air pressure to theupper. side through line 42. This closes thenozzle 12 to cut otf'the supply of gasket compound. Air under pressure is supplied to each of the two-way air'switches 35 from a supply conduit 44 through the rotating coupling its inoperative position is; swung downwardly clear of the latch member 47 so that it has no effect on the machine. operation. When the no-closure shell sensing device,

which will-be described below, senses the absence of a closure shell I on a pedestal 7, the cam 51 isswung up-. wardly to its upward position, as illustrated in FIG.; 3. In this position its upper surface 54 engages'the cam roller 55 on the latch member147 to, swing latch member 47 in, a counterclockwise direction so that it clears the plunger 40 during downward movement of the cam follower 37 by cam 36. The cam 51 is held in its downward or in operative position by air piston 66 which urges the cam 51 downwardly about its pivot 52 through the IHIBIIlIlfi. diation of crank 58'and connecting link59 against the force 'of compressed spring 56 on red 57. The air piston 66 is controlled by a no-closureshell sensing system'in thefollowing manner. o i

The no-closure shell sensing system which raises cam 51 to its operative position to cut off the flow; of gasket com pound is illustrated in FIG. 8. This systemincludes a proximityfdetector 60 mounted adjacent to the path'of.

the pedestals 7 just-beyond the point where the closure shells 1 are fedto the pedestals '7 by the feed wheel 10.

Proximity detector 60 is coupled to a conventional proxim amplifier 61 to remain operative with a continuous output signal. The time delaycircui t in the amplifier 61 is set so that an output signal is maintained for each closure shell sensing for a time interval corresponding to that between the passage of closure shells 1 past theproximity detector 60 when a closure shell 1 is present'on each pedestal'7. When no closureshell 1 is fed to a particular pedestal 7,

the amplifier 61 will receive no signal to continue its output signal and its output signal will cut off. The output signal of amplifier 61 is coupled to an air control valve 62 coupled to air supply conduit 44 by line 63. Duringnor mal operation the continuous outputsignal from the amplifier 61 keeps the valve 62 opensupplying air under pressure through conduit 64 to the air'piston 65 (FIG. 3). This air under pressure keeps the air piston 66 at its extended position against the force of the spring 56 so that cam 51 is lowered to its inoperative position. When the output signal of the amplifier 61 is cut off due to the absence of a closure shell 1, valve 62 is closed and spring 56 moves rod 57 to the left raising cam 51. As described above, cam 51 in its raised position engages cam roller 55 and swings the latch member .7 upwardly to prevent the contact between the plunger 44) and the cam follower 37 on the normal downward nozzle opening movement of the cam follower 37 by cam 36.

As soon as a pedestal 7 passes'the proximity detector 6b with'a closure shell 1 correctly positioned thereon, amplifier 63 will be reactivated and its output signal will open valve 62 causing air piston 66 to lower the cam 51 so that the compound applying system returns to its normal position under control of cam 36.

Operation 7 The operation of the above described machine will now be summarized.

As the pedestals 7 and-nozzles 12 continuously rotate about the vertical spindle 4, a succession of closure shells 1 are fed by the feed wheel it onto the turret 2 so that one closure shell 1 lies in an inverted position on each of the pedestals 7.; These closure shells 1 are moved along an arcuate path beneath a similarly moving nozzle 12 from the feed wheel ill to an em't conveyor 14 and during this movement each closure shell lis rotated at a predetermined speed by the drive pedestals 7 which are rotated in synchronization with the moving turret 2. Each nozzle 12 is aimed to inject a supply'of gasket compound or adhesive in a ring-like configuration on the under side of the closure shell top and the injection period is preciseexample withind thousandths of an inch variation in total gasket thickness. 7

As more fully described above, the pedestal 7 rotation and the turret 2 rotation are exactly synchronized by a positive gear drive system so that the number of turns made by each closure shell 1 on a pedestal 7 between the entrance and exit positions will beconstantand independent of the machine speed. This will permit the gasket overlap and depth controls to be maintained independently of variations and adjustments in the machine speed.

Application of the gasket compound to the closure shells 1 is controlled by a cam operated air valve system as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8. An arcuatecam 36 is provided having a downwardly positioned portion 39 which opens the air control nozzles 12 through the intermediation of cam followers 3'7 and air switches 35 which control valve stems 31 in the compound nozzles 12. Cam followers 37 depress the air switch 35 plungers 4d during the compound applying period to admit air to the under side of the control pistons 32 to open the nozzles12 and release the plungers 40 during the remaining time which causes the air switches 35 to apply airto the upper sides of the pistons 32 to close the compound nozzles 12.

A safety system is provided for each of the compound applying nozzles 12 which prevents compound injection when there is no closure shell '1 on a pedestal 7. This system is illustrated in FIG. 8 and it operates through the provision of a pivoted latch 47 on the nozzle control cam follower ,37. The normal position for the latch 47 is illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein the downward movement of the cam follower 37 operates the plunger 49 so that air 6 switch 35 opens the nozzles 12. In this normal operation position a control cam 51 for the latches 47 remains in a downwardly pivoted position as illustrated in FIG. 8 out of contact with the latches 47. The cam 51 is held in its I inoperative position by air piston 66. The air piston conduit 44, valve 62 and conduit 64. .In this position crank 58 and connecting link 59 are turned to draw the cam 51 downwardly.

During normal operation the steady passage of closure shells 1 past theproximity detector 60 causes a steady signal on the output of the proximity detector amplifier 61. This signal is connected to air valve 62 so that it remains open causing piston 66 to remain in its extended position and cam 51 to remain in its lowered position. If there is an interruption in the supply so that one or more pedestals 7 have no closure shells 1 thereon the output signal 61 will be interrupted causing valve 62 to close. This permits spring 56 to move rod 57 to the left swinging the cam 51 upwardly to its operating position.

Now when the latch 47 reaches the normal nozzle opena proximity detector amplifier 61 will again provide an out-.

put signal opening the valve 62 so that air 'piston 66 lowers cam 51 permitting normal operation of .the cam follower 37 so that it againoperatesplunger 40 of air switch 35. Y v

It will be seen that an improved automatic gasket compound oradhesive applying machine has been provided with more accurate control for gasket depth and positioning to permit the high speedformation of accurately positioned and dimensioned flowed-in-type gaskets or gasket anchoring adhesive rings. An improved safety control and compound cut off system has also been disclosed which permits individual safety control of compound nozzles even where two or more nozzles are in operation simultaneously. l I

As various changes may be made in the form, construc- 7 that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. v

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1. In an automatic machine for forming flowed-in rings in closure shellshaving a means to rotate and to path and having a gasket fluid application nozzle mounted for motion above each of the closure shells, the improvement which comprises the combination of cam means comprising a cam and cam follower means to cause the simultaneous operation of a plurality of the nozzles to apply fluid to a plurality of closure shells therebelow, an air piston in each fluid nozzle, and an air switch operatively coupled to said air piston and to said cam'follower to operate the nozzle under the control of said cam, means comprising a proximity detector adjacent said arcuate path adapted to detect the absence of a closure shell below one of the nozzles, latch means to deactivate said one nozzle, and a coupling between said latch and said detection means comprising a movably mounted second cam,.an air cylinder operatively coupled to said second cam, a valve to control said air cylinder, and an amplifier electrically coupling said detector to said valve.

2. The machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said amplifier. includes a signal time delay circuit whereby an input signalprovidesa delayed output signal.

3. A machine for forming flowed-in ring like gaskets in closure shells comprising means'to move closure shells in a path, a plurality of gasket flow nozzles adapted to, move in timedrelation with said closure shells, a pluralityof means for controlling gasket flow through said nozzles,. a cam element adapted to'actuate said control means, a, device adapted ,to'selectively engage and inactivate each of; said control means, and detection rneansjtadapted to sense the absence of closureshells from said path without touching said shells, and said detection means being further adapted to actuate said device upon detecting the absence of closure shells from said' path. t l

4. A machine for forming flowed-luring like gaskets in closure shells comprising means to'move closure shells ina path, a plurality of gasket flownozzles adapted to move with said'closure shells," a plurality of means for foontr-olling gasketflowthrough said nozzles, a cam ele-' ment adapted to actuate said control means,'a' second cam adapted to selectively'engage and inactivate eachof said control means, drive means adapted to move said second cam into engagement withnsaid control means whereby the control means is inactivated, detection means adapted to sense theabsence of closure shells from said path without touching said shells, and said detection means being further adapted to actuate said drive means upon detecting the, absence of closure shells from said path.

in closure shells comprising, means to move closure "shells in'a path, a plurality of gasketrflow nozzles adapted to move in timed relation with said closureshells, a plurality of means for controlling 'gasketflow through said nozzles, a cam element adapted to actuate said control means, a device adapted to selectively. engage and inactivate each of said control means, a proximity detector adapted to sense the absence of closure shells from said path without touching said shellsjandmeans cooperating with saidfdetector being adapted to actuate said device upon detecting the absence, of closure shells from said path. i

6. A. machine for in closure shells comprising means to moveclosure shells in a path, a plurality of gasket flow nozzles adapted to move in timed relation with said, closure shells, an air, piston within each of said nozzlesfor 'metering gasket flow through the nozzles, a plurality of air switches controlling air flow to said pistons, a cam element, a plurality of 'cam followers each cooperating .with said cam for actuating a corresponding one of said switches, a device adapted: to selectively engage and prevent -'eachof said cam followers from actuating its" corresponding switch,-

and detection means adapted to sense the absence of a a closure shell fromsaid path without touching said shells,

and being further adapted to actuate said device upon de- .of said control means having a'first position wherein said device has no effect on said plurality of control means and a second position wherein said device selectively inactivates the control means, and means responsive to the absence of closure shells from said path for moving said device from the first position to the second position whereby said device prevents gasket, flow through any nozzle not having a closure shell thereunder. a

-' 8. In a machine for forming flowed-in ring like gaskets 'in closure shells having a means to rotate and to move a forming flowed-in ring like gaskets messes plurality of closure shells and having a "gasket fluid appli cation nozzle mounted for motion above eachof the closure shells,thetimprovement which comprises the, combination of a earn, a plurality of-followers cooperating with said cam, a plurality of switches being actuated by said followers to, cause the operation of a plurality of the nozzles to apply fluid to a plurality of the rotating, closure shells therebelow, a device adapted to selectively inactivate individual followers having a first position wherein i said, device has no effect on said followers and a second posi-Q 7 tion wherein said device inactivates one or more, individ-i ual followers, and means responsive to the absence of closure shells from said path for moving said device from the first position to the second position.

9. In a machine for applying flowed-in gaskets to:

closure shells, the combinationof means to move closure shells in a predetermined path through the machine, means to rotate said shells, elements adapted to" apply gasket material to said shells being positioned to move in a path adjacent the path'of said shells, each of-said V 5..A, machine for forming flowed-in ring like gaskets elements including a nozzle and a control switch, a device adapted to engage a plurality of said switches whereby said nozzles apply flowed-in gaskets to said shells,tand a mechanism fixed adjacent the path of said shells and adapted to sense the absence of a shell from said path and further adapted to inactivate one of saidv'elements upon sensing the absence of a shell adjacent the nozzle of said one element. ,7 i i 10. The machine asclaimed in claim 9 in which said sensing mechanism means comprises an electrical proxim,-.

ity detector adjacent said arcuate path adapted to sense the absence of a closure shell onsaid means to rotate the closure shells.. V

11. In a machine for applying flowed-in gaskets to closure shells, the combination'of means to move closure shells in a predetermined path through the machine, means to rotate said shells, elements adapted to apply'gasket.

material tosaid shells :being positioned to move .in a

path adjacent the path of said shells, each of said elements including a nozzle and a control switch, a cam adapted to engage a plurality of said switches whereby said nozzlesv apply'fiowed-in'gaskets to said shells, a proximity detec-l tor fixed adjacent the path of said shells and adapted to sense the absence of a shell from said path, a second cam fixed adjacent'the path of said switches and adapted to, selectively inactivate said elements, and means responsive to said detector and cooperating with the second cam, whereby one of said elementsis inactivated upon the, detection of the absence of aclosure shell adjacent the,

nozzle of said one element,

12. 'A machine for forming fiowed-in'ring like gaskets in closure shells comprising means to movcclosureshells in a path, means for rotating said closure shells-moving in said path, a plurality of gasket flow nozzles adapted to move with said closure shells, a plurality of means for controlling gasket flow through said nozzles, a cam;eIe-, I

ment adapted to actuate each of said control means, a

second cam adapted to engage and inactivateeach' of said 1 control means, drive means adapted to selectively move said second cam into engagement with each of said control, means whereby the control means is inactivated, and detection means operative without touching said shells adapted to sense the absence of a closure shell from said path, said detection means being further adapted to actuate said .drive means upon detecting the absence of a closure shell from said path.

13.A machine for forming flowed-in ring like gaskets in closure shells comprising means to move closure shells in a path, means for rotating said closure shells'which are moving in said path, a plurality of gasket flow nozzlesi adapted to move in time relation with said closure shells, an air piston within each of said nozzles for metering gasket flow through the nozzles, a pulrality of air switches controlling air flow to said pistons, a cam element, a plurality of cam followers each cooperating with said cam for actuating a corresponding one of said switches, a device adapted to selectively engage and prevent each .of said cam followers from actuating its corresponding switch, and detection means adapted to sense the absence of a closure shell from said path without touching said shells, and being further adapted to actuate said device upon detecting the absence of a closure shell from said path.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Stout 324-41 Paasche 1182 Stover.

Wilckens et al. 18-20 Simpson 18-20 Hefiley et a1 1182 RICHARD D. NEVIUS, Primary Examiner.

J. B. SPENCER, Examiner. 

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR FORMING FLOWED-IN RINGS IN CLOSURE SHELLS HAVING A MEANS TO ROTATE AND TO MOVE A PLURALITY OF THE CLOSURE SHELLS ALONG AN ARCUATE PATH AND HAVING A GASKET FLUID APPLICATION NOZZLE MOUNTED FOR MOTION ABOVE EACH OF THE CLOSURE SHELLS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES THE COMBINATION OF CAM MEANS COMPRISING A CAM AND CAM FOLLOWER MEANS TO CAUSE THE SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION OF A PLURALITY OF THE NOZZLES TO APPLY FLUID TO A PLURALITY OF CLOSURE SHELLS THEREBELOW, AN AIR PISTON IN EACH FLUID NOZZLE, AND AN AIR SWITCH OPERATIVELY COUPLED TO SAID AIR PISTON AND TO SAID CAM FOLLOWER TO OPERATE THE NOZZLE UNDER THE CONTROL OF SAID CAM, MEANS COMPRISING A PROXIMITY DETECTOR ADJACENT SAID ARCUATE PATH ADAPTED TO DETECT THE ABSENCE OF A CLOSURE SHELL BELOW ONE OF THE NOZZLES, LATCH MEANS TO DEACTIVATE SAID ONE NOZZLE, AND A COUPLING BETWEEN SAID LATCH AND SAID DETECTION MEANS COMPRISING A MOVABLY MOUNTED SECOND CAM, AN AIR CYLINDER OPERATIVELY COUPLED TO SAID SECOND CAM, A VALVE TO 